Lambeg man

"SPUTNICKS" for UTA built MPD Railcars and obviously "JEEPS" for the WT class 2-6-4T's. "MOGULS" for the tender version (W class) and "WHIPPETS" for a class/type of small boilered NCC 4-4-0's. Finally, "BLUEBIRDS" for the GNR(I) V class 4-4-0's.

Hi BSGSV, Many thanks for your interesting post. "The carriage numbers Mr. Mundy took pics of at Antrim on 28/10/67, that I have are": Lined: N384 (ex-GNR K 13, UTA stock classification 'A' - withdrawn 1970), N464 (ex-GNR L 9, UTA stock classification 'A' - withdrawn 1969), 338 (ex-NCC J 12, UTA stock classification 'B' - withdrawn 1969), 342 (ex-NCC J 12, UTA stock classification 'A' - withdrawn 1975), 375 (ex-NCC J 11, UTA stock classification 'A' - withdrawn 1969). Unlined: 291 (ex-BCDR type 5, UTA stock classification 'A' - withdrawn 1969), 230 (ex-NCC I 3, UTA stock classification 'B' - withdrawn 1969), 385 (ex-NCC J 11, UTA stock classification 'A'). As you can see from the above (assuming the all the relevant carriages numbers are correct), three examples blow my contention about lining being restricted to only 'A' classified stock out of the water! Many thanks for taking the trouble to post. I would rather be corrected than live in mis-assumption! Steve

Hello All, May I refer members to the post 1958 UTA carriage list published in the November 2016 edition of New Irish Lines. It shows which carriages were classified as either 'A', 'B' or 'C' stock. In furtherance of my previous comment about which carriages got the straw coloured waist lining post 1958, may I present the case of the ex-GNR classification D 4's. The UTA got four of these non-corridor Brake/Second's. Two were classified 'A' stock and two were classified 'B'. Between various sources I have seen colour photographs of No. 481 (classified 'B' stock) at Lisburn 2/7/1964 - no lining and No. 483 (classified 'A' stock) at Balmoral 24/3/1964 - with lining. As I have come across any colour photo of a UTA carriage post 1958, I always check to see if my contention holds and so far it has. Remember also that No. 398 (an ex-GNR Third), despite being classified as 'A' stock in 1958 was still in GNR mahogany livery when photographed in use on the Derry Road on 24/8/1963! With regard to UTA all over maroon livery for hauled stock, as far as I was aware John, only TWO carriages ever made it into this livery, the All First No. 180 in 1965 and the Kitchen Car in 1969. Have you any knowledge as to the details for the others?

The above comments (especially Mayner's) are more worthy of consideration than mine. My comment about the signalman being busy setting the road for a down train was rubbish! He surely could not "set the road" for a down rain UNTIL he had the staff for the section north of Omagh. In steam days a signalman could stand at track level and presumably safely take a large GNR staff from the fireman leaning down off the footplate, whereas with a Railcar - no fireman - the driver could not lean out of his cab to deliver the staff at a safer lower level. Therefore I for one would accept Mayner's suggestion as the most likely reason the porter is assisting with the staff exchange. Presumably he had earlier been to the South cabin and obtained a staff for the next section to Beragh which he swapped with the train driver.

Hi John, Many thanks for all your very useful input over time on Irish railway carriage liveries. I've done a bit of digging concerning UTA carriage livery post 1958 (after the acquisition of their share of GNR stock). As you have said elsewhere, Railcars and their trailers were painted in unlined green. However it would appear that post 1958/59, only carriages classified as "A" (or "primary") stock got the yellow waistband, other non-primary stock getting the unlined green livery. Steve

Which begs the question as why the staff was not surrendered as the train passed the North Cabin. Perhaps it was something that was not feasible for the driver of a railcar to do? Signalman too busy setting up the road for a down train?

Photograph taken from a BUT power car. What is of interest is the porter(?) running back down the platform away from the front of the train appears to be holding a GNR type train staff. If it was the staff for the Newtownstewart-Omagh North section, where is he taking it? To the Omagh North cabin?

Hi to all, These carriages (Murphys Models CIE Cravens) are still available from Frizinghall Models & Railways (they regularly advertise in the Railway Modeller magazine) for £45. Check their website.

Hi John, Regarding your comment that ex-GNR BUT/AEC railcars never saw service on the NCC section, may I draw your attention to Norman Johnston's photograph in "Steam Last Fling" which shows a set of AEC railcars at York Road. in 1969. When the 70 class set was transferred to the former GN section to work the 'Enterprise', a set of five AEC power cars and some trailers moved over to work on the NCC section. I believe they made a least one trip to Derry before failing an being returned to GVS. Apparently the NCC men could not get used to manual clutching. Otherwise an excellent piece of work. Well done. Best Wishes Steve